Flood hits Sylhet hard; 2.5 lakh marooned

174 educational institutes shut

The onrush of water from the upstream and heavy rainfall triggered by monsoon over the last one week inundated vast areas in six upazilas of the district, leaving about 2.5 lakh people marooned.

The flood situation in six upazilas-Jakiganj, Bianibazar, Golapganj, Fenchuganj, Osmaninagar and Balaganj-- of the district continued to deteriorate on Sunday, worsening the woes of the affected people.

Rahat Anwar, deputy commissioner of the district, said the authorities concerned have shut 174 educational institutions as those were submerged by floodwater.

Educational institutions, houses, offices and different establishments went under water by the recent flood, as the Kushira River has been flowing 21 centimeters above its danger level.

Besides, academic activities in some 137 educational institutions of Barlekha upazila in Moulvibazar district and Golapganj upazila of Sylhet district are being seriously hampered due to the flood.

According the UNB Moulvibazar correspondent, the flood situation in different parts of the district continued to worsen due to heavy rainfall for the last few days and onrush of hill water.

Sources at the Primary and Secondary Education Department said the authorities of different educational institutions could not resume their academic activities although those were opened on Saturday after the Eid vacation.

Academic activities in 87 schools, including 75 government primary schools, remained suspended as floodwater poured into the school buildings following the rise in Hakaluki Haor water.

Shyamal Chandra Singha, headmaster of Paschim Borny High School, said ‘The floodwater entered the school while roads remain submerged. I managed to attend the school by boat and placed some bricks under its furniture for saving those from water.’

Barlekha Upazila Secondary Education officer Samir Kanti Deb said the two examinations which were scheduled to be held on July 6 and July 8 have been rescheduled for July 23 and July 24 respectively.

Meanwhile, the local administrations have opened six shelter centres in Sylhet while seven in Moulvibazar district. A number of medical camps have been opened in the flood-hit areas.